perspectives from the Indian subcontinent

Most doctors sitting the PLAB (Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board) exam come from the Indian subcontinent. Sabina Dosani finds out what it's really like for them

By:
Sabina Dosani

“PLAB is a farce exam, which has no relevance to actual practice,” says Dr Arvind Kamath, an Indian doctor working as a locum senior house officer in the United Kingdom. Arvind wishes he had been better informed. “Junior doctors are not wanted in this country,” he says, “just experienced doctors. I wish I had known about the high cost of living and that there would be an average of 6-12 month period waiting for jobs.”

Dr Mudita Tripathi is also jobless. Currently living in Leicester, Mudita came to the United Kingdom from India to obtain postgraduate qualifications and training. Despite passing PLAB at his first attempt, Mudita has been unemployed and frustrated for two years. “It would have been better,” he says, “if there was more information given regarding clinical attachments.”

Dr Shweta Mittal has just passed PLAB and is honest about her reasons for coming to the United Kingdom.